Mail-box.



Na $72,329: Patented June 25, I90I. G. W. SMITH.

MAIL BOX.

(Application filed Nov. 1.5, 19004: (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT CEETCE.

GEORGE WV. SMITH, CF UNION CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILLIAM HARRIS, OF SAME PLACE, AND FRED W. HEATH, OF IWIUNCIE,

INDIANA.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming of Letters Patent No. 677,329, dated June 25,1901. Application filed November 15, 1900. Serial No. 36,550. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE W.SM1rH,a citizen of the United States,residing at-Union City, in the county of Randolph and State 5 ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail-boxes, and referparticularly to a mailbox adapted for use in rural delivery, where thebox will serve to receive the mail to be delivered and also the mailwhich is to be sent or forwarded, the object of my invention being theprovision of a mail-box which will be absolutely safe, which will be ofinexpensive and durable construction, and which will be thoroughlyefficient and practical.

To attain the desired object, my invention consists of a mail-boxembodying novel features of construction and combination of partssubstantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my mail-box complete andattached to a post,

the parts being in the position assumed when the box is locked. .Fig. 2represents a perspective view with the box open to permit the collectorto remove the mail. Fig. 3 represents a central sectional view of themailbox, and Fig. 4 represents a detail view of the plate with hood orcover.

In the drawings, A designates a suitable support to which is fastenedthe plate B, which is formed or provided with the hood or cover C, andto one side of the hood or cover is attached the pivoted plate D, whichperforms the function of a signal to indicate to the'collector or senderthat the box contains mail to be collected or received. The foun- 40dation-plate is provided with a pivot E near its forward lower portion,to which is connected the box or receptacle F, the box or receptaclethus being permitted a swinging motion and when looked through themedium of the lock G fitting snugly in the hood or cover and being thusperfectly shielded from the damaging influences of the weather. The

box is provided with the movable interior partition II, which permitsthe separation of the mail, as letters from papers and packages, and thebox is further provided with the hinged flap J, which covers theletter-receiving slot K, also with the name portion Land with the handleM for opening the box to remove the mail. I

In use it is evident that the letters or packages are placed in the box,and when the sender desires to inform the collector that mail is to becollected the signal is raised and notifies the collector, who unlocksthe box, removes the mail, and if mail is to be deposited he simplyplaces it in the box and leaves the signal raised. Thus the mail may besent and collected and a perfect system is insured, and the mail isprotected from theft as well as from injury from the weather.

The curved hood or cover of my mail-box is formed with the turned-upportion C,which forms a gutter or spout and serves to protect thecontents of the mail-box by conveying the water to each side of the hoodand causing it to fall away from the box, and this is of greatimportance. Also the hood limits the movement andholds the box orreceptacle when open or tilted down. 7 5

I claim- The mail-box herein shown and described, consisting of thevertical attaching-plate, the hood or cover having the dependingprotecting side and the gutter at the front thereof, the box orreceptacle hinged to the vertical plate at the forward portion thereofand adapted to be protected by the cover and gutter when closed, and tobe limited and held by the rear of the hood when opened, and a fasteningfor securing the box when closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE w. SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. T. SMITH, O. (3. SHOGKNEY.

